Five reasons why you (Yes! You!) should volunteer with AIIP
By Kelly Berry
Quick – think about some of the reasons why you decided to become an infopreneur. To have control over your own schedule? To focus on the work you love to do? To be able to work from anywhere, including at home in your PJs?
We might have different clients and different skills, but my guess is we are all passionate about working for ourselves. And as infopreneurs, for better or worse, it’s up to us how we spend our time and on what tasks. Hopefully, many of these tasks involve paying clients. But they can also involve ways to improve our business that will ultimately return more or different clients – training, education, certification, and volunteerism.
Yes, volunteerism. Consider how volunteering with AIIP returns something of value to you, in exchange for your investment in time. As a matter of fact, here are five valuable reasons why you should look into volunteering with AIIP:
Reason One: Demonstrate Your Capabilities
Looking to find new clients? Hoping to demonstrate to your target audience that you have some of the skillsets they like to see in an infopreneur? Then find a volunteer task that highlights your skillsets. You can promote what you’re doing as a volunteer to your customer base, or even potentially attract new customers and referral sources through your AIIP audience.
Think about your business and your customers. How can you demonstrate your skills by offering these services in some form to our AIIP organization? Maybe through writing a blog post, sharing your knowledge through a webinar, helping coordinate activities at the conference, or promoting AIIP through social media.
Reason Two: Learning in a Low Risk Environment
Curious to try something new, and add a new skillset to your toolbelt? There is no better opportunity for that than with a volunteer opportunity. The perfect time to push yourself is when you are not doing that new thing for a paying client. As a volunteer, you will be working with other volunteers who can make the new task seem less overwhelming and help you learn the ropes.
For example, I have a goal to move more of my business online, so getting involved in facilitating the monthly Info Pro Cafes through the Virtual Events Committee was a perfect fit for me. What new skills are you hoping to learn that you can test out as a volunteer?
Reason Three: Meet Your Peers
For those of us who work from home and interact with our pets more than with people on some days, volunteering is a great way to get to know your fellow AIIP members, especially through phone calls or videoconferencing. So nice to know you’re not alone out there!
Reason Four: Give Back to AIIP
Think about the benefits you are getting as a member – if there weren’t volunteers, most of those benefits would go away. It takes a “village” of volunteers to keep the website and social media current, to plan the conference, to welcome new members, etc. Have you checked out the list of member benefits? Every one of those comes from groups of volunteers making sure these benefits are available to members.
Reason Five: It’s Fun and Rewarding
Knowing you are helping, being around others who are helping and appreciate your efforts, and engaging regularly with your fellow infopreneurs is a reward in itself!
How can you learn more about the volunteer opportunities through AIIP? Check out the options at these links:
https://www.aiip.org/Members-Only/Volunteer
https://www.aiip.org/Members-Only/Volunteer-Form
Not a member? Consider joining now!
Kelly Berry specializes in market research and peer groups for first and second stage businesses, and in training and development for start-ups, through her consulting business, ResourceAbility She is an active volunteer with AIIP and several local organizations.
